SYLACAUGA, Ala. – For eight decades, it was difficult to find a corner of this marble town not etched by the influence and legacy of Earl Ralls Lewis. Coach, educator, writer, historian, volunteer, and mentor, Lewis wore each title with the same quiet devotion that defined his life until the very end. Lewis died Sunday, Nov. 16, at his home. He was 87.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, Nov. 20, at 11:00 a.m. at Curtis and Son Funeral Home in Sylacauga, with visitation on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery will follow the funeral service.
Born Oct. 31, 1938, in Dover, Tenn., Lewis grew up to become one of Sylacauga’s most enduring figures. After graduating from Sylacauga High School in 1956 and earning degrees from Livingston State College and the University of Montevallo, he devoted his career to shaping generations of students and athletes. He joined the school system in 1965, coaching football, track, basketball, and cross country. He also coached swimming.
His influence stretched from football fields to swimming pools. As a teenager, he helped lead the 1954 Aggies to a state football championship. As a coach, he became a fixture at Legion Stadium, contributing to the 1969 state title team and guiding track athletes to county and state honors throughout the 1970s.
Family and faith grounded him. He married Willa Dean Melton, the love of his life, and together they raised their children, Robin and Steve, while remaining deeply involved in their church and community. He cherished traveling, woodworking, Alabama football, and every moment spent with his family.
To many, his true legacy came after the final whistle. Lewis became director of The Care House in 1997, a role he embraced with quiet compassion for 25 years. Friends often said Lewis didn’t simply run the ministry, he embodied it, offering steady support to countless families through difficult seasons.
Keeping his lifelong ties to Aggie athletics strong, Lewis founded the Sylacauga High School Athletic Alumni Association (S-Club) in 1994, just one year after retiring, and served as its president for 20 years. Acting as a bridge between past and present, the S-Club connects alumni and supporters across generations through school pride, shared memories, and a commitment to giving back. The organization awards annual scholarships to deserving student-athletes and hosts reunions, fundraisers, and events honoring Sylacauga’s athletic history while supporting current programs.
Current S-Club president Tim Allen told SylacaugaNews.com that Lewis was the epitome of Sylacauga. “He lived and breathed Sylacauga,” Allen said. “He was a good man. A godly man. He lived for God, and he was the biggest fan of Sylacauga and the Aggies.”
At Monday night’s annual Sylacauga football banquet, the program renamed its Aggie Pride Award to The Coach Earl R. Lewis Award, reflecting the pride Lewis had for the Aggies and the impact he left on the school.
Lewis’ affection for his hometown also filled the pages of local newspapers and news websites. A gifted writer, he chronicled community accomplishments and sports milestones. He co-authored Sylacauga: Images of America and Sylacauga History in Vintage Postcards, preserving the city’s history while celebrating the people who shaped it.
Service became a lifelong commitment. Lewis maintained 50 years of faithful membership in the Sylacauga Kiwanis Club, served twice as Club President, and earned numerous honors, including the George F. Hixson Fellow Award. He led the Sylacauga Historical Society, supported the Beautification Council, and sponsored the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for nearly three decades.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Cornerstone First Global Methodist Church, The Care House of Sylacauga, or the Coach Earl Lewis S-Club Alumni Scholarship.
For generations of Aggies and neighbors, Earl Lewis didn’t just serve Sylacauga. He helped define it.
